There was a lot of Ryan trade talk this season so I think with the right deal he could be had, but that would likely mean Staal going the other way. Unless there is a good winger on the FA market this year.

I'm looking at FAs. Maybe Doan or Whitney out of Phoenix? Both right-shooters and unrestricted.

We could use a better winger for Crosby and it's not as much to increase scoring but to balance things out. You mentioned 3 wingers, who's the 4th. Sullivan? That's not good enough. And we could maybe then make a PP unit with Crosby, leaving Malkin with Neal. I think that if I am Shero I am very seriously looking for a scoring winger for Crosby.

Sarcastic wrote:We could use a better winger for Crosby and it's not as much to increase scoring but to balance things out. You mentioned 3 wingers, who's the 4th. Sullivan? That's not good enough. And we could maybe then make a PP unit with Crosby, leaving Malkin with Neal. I think that if I am Shero I am very seriously looking for a scoring winger for Crosby.

We need to re-do the defense too, but that's another topic.

I'm not saying another winger is something that should be ignored, but there are two things that make it a secondary need to defense. First, the Penguins were the top scoring team in the NHL in 2011-12...without Crosby, and with the current group of forwards. It was enough last year without Crosby and it will be more than enough this year with Crosby. Two, if rumors are true that Staal wants an increased role and that management would like to try him on a scoring line (as was indicated before each of the last two injury-riddled seasons), he becomes that 6th forward to go along with Malkin, Crosby, Neal, Kunitz and Dupuis. If that happens, a scoring forward isn't needed, and instead a third line shut-down center would be on the shopping list.

Sarcastic wrote:I also propose we try Staal at wing again. Maybe he and Sid can find chemistry?

Was this combination ever put on the ice for an extended period of time, i.e. 3+ games? It certainly is intriguing, as I could see Staal filling a role similar to Kunitz, except far more skilled and bigger.

Sarcastic wrote:I also propose we try Staal at wing again. Maybe he and Sid can find chemistry?

Was this combination ever put on the ice for an extended period of time, i.e. 3+ games? It certainly is intriguing, as I could see Staal filling a role similar to Kunitz, except far more skilled and bigger.

It was either Staal with Sid or Sid with Staal at the end of the year for a few minutes.

The time to find out if Staal could work as a permanent winger would have been before giving him a big contract extension, not after. He'd be an unknown commodity there. Then what happens if it doesn't go so hot? Things revert back to the status quo ante?

If you're Staal, why mess around? Just go to a team where your role would be in no doubt, which would be a ton of teams.

Another thing is, moving Staal to wing is not a new idea. Before acquiring Neal, this team was absolutely desperate for wingers, and Staal was sitting there the whole time at 3rd line center. Yet somehow, he never found his way to wing for more than a few minutes. Why is that? Probably because they didn't think it was a great fit.

Pens15 wrote:The time to find out if Staal could work as a permanent winger would have been before giving him a big contract extension, not after. He'd be an unknown commodity there. Then what happens if it doesn't go so hot? Things revert back to the status quo ante?

If you're Staal, why mess around? Just go to a team where your role would be in no doubt, which would be a ton of teams.

Another thing is, moving Staal to wing is not a new idea. Before acquiring Neal, this team was absolutely desperate for wingers, and Staal was sitting there the whole time at 3rd line center. Yet somehow, he never found his way to wing for more than a few minutes. Why is that? Probably because they didn't think it was a great fit.

That was the plan in 10-11 and 87, 71 and 11 played two (?) games together, so there was never a chance to do it.This past year, they didn't need Staal at wing, after Crosby came back and they needed Staal at C when 87 was out.

Pens15 wrote:The time to find out if Staal could work as a permanent winger would have been before giving him a big contract extension, not after. He'd be an unknown commodity there. Then what happens if it doesn't go so hot? Things revert back to the status quo ante?

If you're Staal, why mess around? Just go to a team where your role would be in no doubt, which would be a ton of teams.

Another thing is, moving Staal to wing is not a new idea. Before acquiring Neal, this team was absolutely desperate for wingers, and Staal was sitting there the whole time at 3rd line center. Yet somehow, he never found his way to wing for more than a few minutes. Why is that? Probably because they didn't think it was a great fit.

That was the plan in 10-11 and 87, 71 and 11 played two (?) games together, so there was never a chance to do it.This past year, they didn't need Staal at wing, after Crosby came back and they needed Staal at C when 87 was out.

That's true, the injury situations did significantly limit the opportunities to try it. But I also never got the sense that it was much of a priority either.

And also, it's not like it's NEVER been tried. He's taken shifts with Malkin and Sid here and there many times, and it's never jumped out. Just didn't try it long enough? Maybe. But I think more likely, the coaches just felt that you get the most bang for your buck from each guy as a center.

Pens15 wrote:And also, it's not like it's NEVER been tried. He's taken shifts with Malkin and Sid here and there many times, and it's never jumped out. Just didn't try it long enough? Maybe. But I think more likely, the coaches just felt that you get the most bang for your buck from each guy as a center.

if you take away his rookie year, it's safe to say it's NEVER been tried. a couple games over a 5 year span isn't really much of an effort.